建尔元子
Setting someone up to stand
王曰叔父,建尔元子,俾侯于鲁。
The king said: Uncle, establish your eldest son, and make him lord of Lu.
诗经 · 閟宫
· our translation
The Zhou king enfeoffs the Duke of Zhou's eldest son. 建 here is to set a person — and a state — on its feet.
周王封周公长子于鲁。「建」在这里不是盖房子,是立起一个人、一个国。
建芳馨
Raising something worth raising
合百草兮实庭,建芳馨兮庑门。
Gather a hundred herbs to fill the courtyard; set up fragrance at the side doors.
楚辞 · 湘夫人
· our translation
From the布置 of a shrine: 建 takes as its object not only houses but a fragrance.
《湘夫人》布置祭堂:百草满院,把「芳馨」立起来。「建」的对象可以是一座屋,也可以是一种气味。
建树创建建安建华建明建德建安
In a name
Making something stand, rather than making more of it.
「建」是让人或事「立得住」,不是「造得多」。